Are these diatoms

[FishRFriendsNotFood]

Hi everyone,

a quick question: are these diatoms as I should expect in a new tank? Or another type of algae?
Cycle started on may 31st. Lights on since last week.

Thank you!

 

[Flippers4pups]

No way to tell for sure. Need a microscope identification.

Could be cyanobacteria, diatoms or dinoflagellates.

 

[LxHowler]

Hard to tell. You say it's a new tank how long has the tank been cycled?

 

[FishRFriendsNotFood]

I started the cycle on 03/31.
I just saw a bubble on a few brown spots. Dino's?

 

[LxHowler]

Could be Dino's but in a new tank I think it's more likely to be diatoms or possibly cyano, the bubbles from off gassing of the algae being trapped.
If you are worried about Dino's and don't have a microscope you could try a reconstruction test (I think that's what it's called) to try and rule them out. Not 100% accurate, took me a couple of tries to get it right when I had Dino's, but it does work.

Helpful Method for Identifying Dinoflagellates

There have been dozens (probably hundreds) of posts from people trying to identify dinoflagellates in their aquarium. I have posted this in other threads but figured it might be helpful to start a thread explaining this method. Dinoflagellates are single-celled organisms that aggregate to form...

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